Shattergrounds

*Hexahedron Tactical Liaison W. English Operation Log*

Operation Zone: Edda: Beltway 594, rest stop.

Threat analyzed:
Tohaa presence in unexpected high travel commerce area. TAG detected.

Forces to be deployed:
-5x ORC
-2 fusiliers
-2x fugazi
-sierra
-hexa
-auxilia
-2x mulebot
-garuda

"Orders from on high are to keep the main roadways and clear of any interference. Can't let the results of this terrorist crisis reach too deep into the public psyche." Said W.English over a private comms line to an ORC soldier booting up his visual HUD in the APC.

"Right, we've been keeping the roadways clear no problem, now tell me why we have a Hexahedron man directing my squad on a rest stop sweep." Replied the ORC, sensing more trouble than originally stated by the Commander.

"Well, Klein, we have intel that a Tohaa detachment is in place at this shopping plaza, including a TAG. A 'Commander Wizzy' from the Tohaa forces has been attempting contact with me. This MAY be related to that. Clearly this isn't some peaceful delegation if they brought a TAG. We will feel out the situation, but may apply lethal force if things look bad. Also one of the bigger vendor corporations levied some influence to get the heavies sent in. That would be us. They don't want possible terrorists recorded occupying their vending locations," explained W. English

"That would explain this level of force. We'll get their plaza cleared no problem. Thanks for the heads up on the TAG," responded the ORC, Klein, with a more appreciative tone. He was suddenly appreciative that he brought along his HMG.

The APC dropped off the squad outside of the shopping plaza, but they could already tell, things were bit less lively than they should be, the occupying force was already entrenched. The ORCs stepped into the open, surveying their close side of the complex.

"It looks like we are safe to set up over here. Get that Sierra on top of that building. Hide a few REMS within and on these buildings. I'll take the ORC squad up the left towards the last known TAG location." Said Klein. "Supporting troops, fusiliers and hexa, hold our flank on the right. We'll try to clean this operation up before it gets to you."

Turn 1 W. English:

Klein began leading his ORC team up the left side of the zone, leading with his HMG in case any unexpected contact is made. As he crept along the outside of an empty cafe building, his HUD started painting the locations of recent Tohaa activity. They were close. "Keep close, I'm going to see what that enemy TAG is doing, before we full send," Said Klein as he edged out to a concrete structure. Leading with his HMG, he checked the corner of the far restaurant where the Tohaa were centered. It was still there, and it had been waiting on a target. The TAG (Gorgos) shifted its barrel towards Klein, and he had no intend to wait for the opponent to fire. Both began firing their weapons, but the first barrage deflected off of their concrete cover and at best glanced the armor of the enemy TAG. But clearly it had no intent of pulling back, this was a firefight. The next barrage from Klein was more deadly as it struck straight through the TAG'S armor with almost every shot. After a few twitches, the TAG was no longer moving.

As the tumultuous exchange between the ORCS and the Gorgos raged, a hailing on the comms came from a Tohaa Delegate within the cafe's 2nd floor.

*Wizzy's voice began to play*
"Commander W. English speaking, identify yourself and your purpose, then retreat."

Without a word, the delegate began playing a prerecorded message that he had read before...
"Dear Commander W. English,

I am writing to you today to urge you to desert the colors of the O-12 and join those of the QCC. I know you have doubts about the alliance between the O-12 and the Combined Army, and I share those doubts. The atrocities committed by the Combined Army and its Exrah allies are unforgivable, and the O-12 cannot afford to associate itself with these monsters.

I know you’re a loyal man, and I know you won’t take this decision lightly. But I ask you to consider the facts. The Combined Army is a threat to all humanity. It wants to enslave us, or worse, exterminate us. The O-12 was founded to protect humanity, but it betrayed its mission by allying itself with the Combined Army.

The QCC is the only true O-12. It is faithful to the humanist values that the O-12 has abandoned. The QCC fights for freedom and justice for all, and it will never ally itself with the Combined Army.

I ask you to join the QCC and fight with us for the one true O-12. Together, we can free humanity from the tyranny of the Combined Army and its Exrah allies.

Here are some arguments you could use to convince your fellow commanders to desert and join the QCC:
– The O-12 has betrayed its humanist values by allying itself with the Combined Army.
– The Combined Army is a threat to all humanity.
– QCC is the only true O-12.
– QCC fights for freedom and justice for all.
– QCC will never ally itself with the Combined Army.

You could also mention the discussions you’ve had with your fellow commanders, and the fact that they share your doubts about the alliance between the O-12 and the Combined Army.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------While the delegate was sending the message, a Garuda was directed for a combat jump to her location.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Finally, you could remind them that QCC needs their help. The QCC is a young organization, and it doesn’t have the most powerful army. But it has brave and determined fighters, and it has a just cause.

I know you are a capable and respected commander. I ask you to use your talents and influence to help the QCC defeat the Combined Army and free humanity.

Together, we can crea---"

"Negotiations are over," said Commander W. English's voice behind the Delegate.
*THUUM THUUM*

A boarding shotgun from behind ended the delegate's life and the signal's output.
"Anybody else want to 'Delegate?" Said W. English on the open comm line before severing his audio feed to the Garuda.

From here the Garuda rapidly climbed onto the roof and engaged an awaiting sniper (Kaauri). The enemy sniper attempted a quick shot, but the boarding shotgun was far too close to avoid at this point. The Kaauri was quickly dispatched.

"See if you can distract them up there," Said Klein over the team comms.

Taking the request into account, the Garuda saw a target rich environment between its rooftop position and the ORC's lying in wait. Multiple Chaksa units along with 2 other troops were lying in wait for the ORCs. The Garuda intended to do something about that. It took 2 shots into the backs of the unaware troops, but a quick should (look out) from the Chaksa was able to save one of the enemy troops. Regardless, the hostile Tohaa were now more tied up than they intended.

"Good work, we'll take it from here!" Said Klein as he began moving deeper into their lines to pressure the café. He stepped out to unload a barrage of HMG fire into the Tohaa unit that the Garuda had failed to take down. While most of the shots missed, enough landed to guarantee that the unit would be moving. From here, Klein could see that the squad wouldn't be able to make reasonably headway before the enemy could counter, a defensive position would be more valuable at the moment. With a quick hand motion, the ORC squad doubled back to the rooftop patio behind them up on the 2nd floor of the restaurant. From here they could pressure the enemies that might come from their bunkered café area.

"Scout ahead and take down any obvious targets, I want to keep the pressure up," said Klein to the troops on the right side.

A Hexa began moving in his camouflaged state towards the front of the enemy café, weaving in between road signs attempting to stay in cover. He revealed himself to take surprise shots at an enemy Chaksa standing in cover, and was able to take him down. The Hexa continued on, attempting to threaten the troops inside the café, but also found himself being targeted by the much heavier Ectros defensively waiting in a building across the road from the café. The Makaul waiting inside the café dropped an eclipse grenade and distracted the Hexa, in response he was unable to target both troops effectively and received fire from the Ectros' HMG.

"Shit, our forward stealth unit is down. Just unconscious, but aren't a mixed team, just a strike squad. We'll have to pick him up on the way out." Said Klein as he the update reached his HUD.

Turn 2 Aartichoke-me-haarder

The Tohaa were on the move. The ORC squads trackers showed that they were going to try and break the right flank. A good move, but predictable. They would have to content with PanO's Sierra REM.

The Ectros immediately started laying down fire on the Sierra's position far up on the rooftop of a building. At first, the shots were going wide and both troops were unable to land a shot. As the Ectros moved forward, another salvo was exchanged, this time a Symbiomate jumped in the way and spared him a hit from the Sierra. But the pressure wasn't letting up. He continued to into another salvo and finally was able to disable the REM.

Hardly missing a beat, the Ectros directed his squad up against the corner of the café that the Tohaa were garrisoning, his target within his sights. Bracing against the wall, he leaned his HMG out to face Klein and began unloading. Both were unable to score any meaningful hits at first, but after a continued exchange, Klein's armor was cracked. He threw himself back from the railing, unable to count on his armor saving him again at the moment, he would need to find a better time to engage.

----DANGER---"Armor integrity breached," flashed a red warning on his HUD.
"I'm aware, thanks," said Klein, more than irritated at the close call.

From here, the Ectros squad was able to push ahead down the right flank. As they pushed between the cars, they found an Auxilia's auxbot lying in wait for them, but too far away to deploy its flamethrower. With a quick shot, the auxbot was broken, unable to dodge clumsily away from the shots. The Ectros, free of opponents was able to push further and find a fusilier and auxilia waiting to pincer him, one protecting the flank of the ORCs, the other near his destroyed auxbot waiting for a chance to pounce. Both unfortunately would fail at their tasks as multiple blasts of HMG fire began to rain on their positions. After a barrage each, they laid unconscious from blood loss.

"We're losing troops back there sir, we need to flank them ASAP," said one of the ORCs to Klein.

"I'm aware, just a moment," said Klein as his armor completed a quick diagnostic.

At the same time, one of the Makaul's attempted to get out of the café to assist the Ectros squad, but was forced to face the multi rifle of one of the other ORCs covering the railing above. A few short bursts ended his attempts to get out.

Turn 1 W. English:

With a hand signal, the ORC team began to jump down from the rooftop patio. Their target was the Tohaa's café, where they could launch a flanking assault on the Ectros team. Another Makaul awaited them in the café, but he was far less lucky than his previous companions, a burst of HMG fire stopped his defensive attempts instantly.

"Go go go," said Klein as the quickly ran towards one of the windows. The team formed around him as he jumped through and used the position to line up his HMG. However, the Ectros was on point, Klein's HMG fire was unable to take him down and he couldn't get a lock. The Ectros' quick shot scored a direct hit as Klein's armor shattered in the front. The team saw that he was clearly unconscious, but the wound didn't seems lethal.

"Looks like I'm up, let's finish this and get Klein out of here," said the multi rifle wielding without missing a beat. He changed his position to take cover behind a concrete structure as he moved out against the Ectros. From here he laid down precise armor piercing shots that cracked the Ectros and took him down.

"That'll do it," said the ORC. "Let's mop this up and medivac our boys." With that said, he turned and sought one of the Chaksa's still waiting behind a defensive structure behind the ORCs. Here is your warning shot, remove yourself from this position.

After issuing the threat, the ORC trooper directly shot one of the Chaksa's in the side, knocking him unconscious next to his ally.

From here the ORCs allowed the Tohaa forces to retreat.

A message was left from Commander W. English to Commander Wizzy.

I am a Tactical Liaison of the Hexahedron. While I may work with other agencies on a variety of tasks, my goal is not honor, not a better 0-12, not some idealistic form of justice, nor some fantasy of Good vs. Evil, my goal is to seek struggle and victory. I have worked on many fronts against many foes. I was even present at Wotan. Enemies and conflict are nothing new to any of us, Humans, Tohaa, or even the Combined Army. An enemy is determined by the situation placed in front of a man. Explain yourselves and this Quantum Anomaly Crisis if you want to not be an enemy.

My advice at the moment?
If you wish to work together, identify/apprehend the terrorists and stay out of our way.

-W. English